3 Cs Leaders Must Communicate!

"Of every noble work the silent part is best, Of all expression that which can not be expressed" - William Wetmore Story

What we intend to communicate are the meanings our listeners hear.

Every leader has something to say - yet, how many leaders tell those tales that need to be told?

1) Are leaders using the wrong words?

2) Are their words conveying the wrong things?

3) Do they intentionally mean the wrong things?

I believe our leadership communication problem involves an element of all three.

We hear about leaders in all kinds of endeavors and all walks of life saying they are being:

=> Misinterpreted

=> Misconstrued

=> Misquoted

=> Misunderstood

=> Misrepresented

It's time to focus on the purposes of a leader's speech - we should first ask ourselves 'why' leaders need to communicate before we attempt to understand what they need to say.

Communicate for Clarity! It's Imperative, Important & Immediate, So Say It!

You must

=> Define,

=> Describe

=> Protect

the integrity, consistency and clarity of your own or the collective group's agreed-upon

=> intent, purpose, mission, vision, meanings, beliefs, values, relationships and views

"Truth is the secret of eloquence and of virtue, the basis of moral authority; it is the highest summit of art and of life" - Henri Frédéric Amiel

Clarity is the consistent communication of truth, purpose and integrity!

Communicate for Commitment! Ask for Their Hope, Faith and Acceptance!

To ensure their commitment, you must

-> facilitate, offer, negotiate and orchestrate the quality, quantity and worthiness of your people's

- trust, emotional investments, common bonds, cultural ties, franchise, loyalty, agreements, engagements, obligations, pledges and covenants

Your meanings, words and intentions must include a serious consideration of their

- need for retreat, current positions and stances, their privileges and rights, reputation and goodwill, and craving or hopes for glory.

"Heroism is the brilliant triumph of the soul over the flesh, that is to say over fear: fear of poverty, of suffering, of calumny, of illness, of loneliness and of death. There is no real piety without heroism." - Henri Frédéric Amiel

There is no real heroism without courage. There is no real courage without commitment!

Communicate for Competence! Build It, Strengthen It, Grow It!

Elevate the competence of your people and their work

-> develop, discover, evaluate and strengthen the amount, impact and relevance of the team's

- talents, skills, performances, capabilities, momentum, transcendence, quantum leaps and improvements, capacities, influences, proficiencies, merits, literacy, adaptations and transformations, suitability, deeds or accomplishments, contributions and investments of time, energies and ideas.

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em" - William Shakespeare

The good leader finds and allows greatness to blossom, the better leader encourages greatness to rise-up and assert itself, the greatest leader puts the ordinary into direct contact with greatness!

------------------------------------------------------------

Use these 3 "C"s in your written and oral, formal or informal communications. You'll see others respond to your ideas and follow your instructions with more enthusiasm.

I sometimes advise leaders to state the purpose of their words first, then provide more details to their audience. For example, tell them you want their commitment, then tell them why you need it and what you hope to achieve with it.

When it comes to poor or weak communications, don't be a victim or perpetrator!

Use your leadership opportunities to clearly, passionately and capably communicate your true intentions - you can do it because you want to, you believe you can and you are capable of doing it well!

"Art is a human activity having for its purpose the transmission to others of the highest and best feelings to which men have risen." - Count Leo Tolstoy

Use the art of purposeful leadership communications to elevate, encourage and empower your people to superior levels of performance!

Copyright © 2005, Mustard Seed Investments, Inc., All rights reserved.

------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill Thomas publishes leadership skills training books, materials & programs like, "Your Leadership-UltraNet!" - this premier Performance Empowerment System helps you think-like, act-like, behave-like, believe-like & manage-like highly effective leaders - Learn more here:
http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/skills.html
------------------------------------------------------------

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Leadership, Self-Development, and the Committment to Growth

There is a common phrase that says: "You can't teach... Read More

The Leader Within

Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More

Leader is Not a Title

There is a steady flow of information in the form... Read More

In Leadership, Identifying Dreams That Lead To Great Results

History teaches that when people needed to do great things,... Read More

Leadership ? Push vs. Pull?

At your next staff meeting consider leading your team through... Read More

The Seven Army Values - Theyre Not Just For The Military

The Army defines seven values that soldiers should strive to... Read More

Why You Should Ignore This Advice

Doesn't make too much sense does it? Am I really... Read More

Leadership For Deep Results: Without Them Are You Wasting Your Leadership And Your Life? (Part Two)

How does one go about getting deep results? There are... Read More

Top 25 Leadership Quotations

Ponder what it takes to be a true leader with... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More

Having Fun In Leadership

"Don't measure your life by your goals, but rather by... Read More

Leadership Skills and Ability

What is true Leadership.Is leadership something we are born with... Read More

A Call to Men to Live a Strenuous Life!

Any man would be justly proud to claim even a... Read More

Four Obstacles to Exceptional Leadership--Part 1

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of... Read More

The Three Faces of Leadership

This article was published in the Nov. 2003 edition of... Read More

Character -- Why It Matters In Leaders

"Character is much easier kept than recovered." -Thomas Paine"The best... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 2, Multiple Conversations

Side conversations ruin meetings by destroying focus and fragmenting participation.Approach... Read More

Effective Leaders are (#3) Communicative

LISTEN, WRITE, AND ARTICULATE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership positions require effective communication... Read More

8 Questions to Ask if You Want to be a Better Leader

Those that have successfully made the transition from manager to... Read More

Leadership Lessons from Pope John Paul II

"Heroes are rebels with a cause. Rebels because they challenge... Read More

What is Leadership?

Leadership is what every organization needs and so few have... Read More

7 Excellent Ways To Improve Your Leadership Skills!

Did you know that there are 7 really effective yet... Read More

Who Is Randy Gage and Why Is He One of My Mentors and Heroes?

Who is Randy Gage? I first read about him in... Read More

Common Mistakes Extraordinary Leaders Dont Make

When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to... Read More

Career Advice for Business Leaders: Empowering Others

Many potential leaders in business sabotage themselves and their organizations... Read More

A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By George Washington Saved The Revolution

A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By George... Read More

Teen View of Leadership From Around the World

It has been stated that the world of tomorrow will... Read More

Dissolving Conflict Through Reframing

Reframing is looking at the situation with a new set... Read More

People Problems -- Understanding the Dueling Paradigms

You've spent the last 12 years riding your technical skills... Read More

Ten Steps To Effective Leadership

Many people end up in a supervisory position or SOHO... Read More

Leadership: Seed or Fruit?

Purpose: Learn immediately if you are fostering leadership or ignoring... Read More

Be the Samurai Sword

Relationships are constantly facing crisis. Everywhere we look people are... Read More

The Three Essential Attributes of a Leader: (Part 2) Bringing Others to the Vision

We need to engage our listeners and transform them into... Read More